Apron



1950 M. ofwEs'rco'rT ETAL 2,495,436

' APRON Filed Nov. 17, 1947 IN V EN TOR. MAR\ON D. WESTCOTT & FRANCES D. ARMENTROUT THEIR ATTORNEY 4 Patented Jan. 24, 1950 APRON Marion D. Westcott and Frances D. Armentrout,

' Washington, D. C.

Application November 17, 1947, Serial No. 186,368

4 Claims.

This invention relates to apparel and more especially to aprons of the character used as garments.

An object of our invention is the provision of a simple, practical apron which is easy to adjust to the body, is positively and reliably held around the waist of the user, and yet is readily removed when desired.

A further object of the invention is that of providing a highly useful apron which is easy to wash and iron substantially as flat-work, and which in use gives a striking decorative ruffled effect.

A still further object of our invention is the provision of a durable, highly beneficial apron which is well suited to give prolonged service and lasting attraction.

Other objects of the invention in part will be obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the combination of elements, features of construction, and in the several operational steps and the relation of each of the same to one or more of the others as described herein, and the scope of the application of which is indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing and representing an embodiment of my invention:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the garment-protective portion and pocket of an apron;

Figure 2 is a section taken along the line A-A in Figure 1;

Figure 3 represents a spring clip element employed for supporting the garment-protective por tion; and. v 1

Figure 4 is a perspective view of an assembled apron. I As conducive to a clearer understanding of certain features of our invention, it may be noted at this point that a wide variety of aprons in the prior art rely upon the use of tie-strings, cords or ribbons for tying the apron around the waist of the user. Those conventional aprons require a behind-the-back tying operation which quite often is tedious and time consuming. The aprons also are susceptible to knotting of the strings to such an extent that sometimes picking of the knot is required to undo the string. A further objection resides in the detrimental effects of continued handling, such as soiling of the strings during tying or untying. Usually these aprons are permanently sewn to their tying means and in many forms introduce washing and ironing prob lems, especially where permanent ruiiies and pleats are introduced at the front.

Some few aprons in the prior art depend for support upon a spring, which partially or fully encircles the waist of the wearer thus affording a clamping action. The spring eliminates the need for tie-strings and accordingly offers many advantages. The heretofore known aprons in this particular category, however, have not been appreciably developed from the standpoints of interest and eye appeal or of prolonged useful life of the fabric coupled with enhanced aesthetic efiects. Others often fall short of being attractive to the customer when appraised from the standpoint of beneficial features.

An outstanding object of our invention accordingly is the provision of an apron which is free of tie-strings and the many inherent disadvantages thereof, and which apron is handy, neat and tidy in appearance, practical, and useful with pleasing results inclusive of rapid and easy support and removal relative to the waist of the wearer. v

Referring now more particularly to the practice of our invention, we provide an apron, which is the illustrative embodiment represented in the accompanying drawing, is denoted in general by the reference numeral I0. This apron includes a garment-protective portion 1 I, for example made of a substantially rectangular piece of cloth hemmed along at least the top border edge, giving the hem l2. The hem conveniently is produced by doubling back a corresponding end of the cloth and by sewing through the superimposed thicknesses. As sewn, there are preferably at least two substantially parallel spaced lines of stitches extending along the hem. These are indicated by the reference characters 12a and 12b in Figure 1-. The outermost line, 12a, advantageously is far enough back from the garment top to leave a substantial heading I20 while the line 42b con veniently fastens down the innermost part of the hem.

The hemmed portion l2 defines a passage l4 between the superimposed fabric thicknesses thereof and between the stitches I20. and 12b. A spring 15, preferably a tempered flat metal spring clip normally coiled on about an 8-inch diameter for example and advantageously having rolled or rounded edges, or any other satisfactory spring illustratively made of wide or synthetic plastic, extends through the passage M to serve as a clip for clamping around the waist of the user and thus to hold the apron in place. The outermost line of stitching I2a bears against the spring leaving the heading .lZc upstanding to contribute to appearance and for concealing any gaps or irregularities between the spring and the waist of the wearer. Also, when used, the heading relieves the top edge from direct contact with the spring, thus reducing the tendency of edges to fray. For best results, we put the line |2a sufficiently far back to give the heading a width of at least about one-half the width of the hem.

We find that the upstandingportion or heading, and fabric immediately beneath the passage l4,

give a highly attractive gathered or pleated efiect where the line 52 is pulled together or foreshortened along the spring. In preferred embodiment for easily achieving this effect, the garmentprotective portion l l is substantially free for sliding and gathering relative to the spring. Usually the spring simply extends through the passage 14 leaving the portion H free to be gathered up an amount consistent with waistline measurements and satisfaction of the user or slipped off for cleaning, ironing or the like. The fabric around the passage 14 preferably fits close enough to the spring to retain a gathered setting during actual use or even after the apron has been removed from the waist. This fit may be fairly loose when desired, especially considering that the clamping action of the spring against the wearer tends to maintain the given gathered setting.

Our apron preferably includes at least two hems, counting the hem 52 at the top and for example a bottom hem 13. The bottom hem illustratively is substantially parallel to the top hem and advantageously has the same stitching arrangement, thus providing passage iii between stitch lines 3a and 13b and between double thicknesses of the fabric. To relieve the garmentprotective portion ll of injury by continued contact with the spring, each of the hems i2 and i3 is available for use at different times as the uppermost hem, and as such receives the spring in the corresponding passage M or it. A margin 13c becomes effective as a heading when the hem i3- is used topmost, and is capable of giving a gathered effect as already described with reference to the heading 12c. by sliding the fabricrelative to the spring, in the same manner and with the results noted in connection with the hem 12.

The apron advantageously comprises pocket means 11, this illustratively being at least two pockets, one opening toward the hem i2 and the other opening toward the hem l3. With this arrangement there is a pocket available for useful access whether the apron be supported from either of the hems by the spring 1'5. A preferred two-pocket assembly includes a pocket wall I! overlying the outside surface of the garmentprotective portion l. and sewn to the latter at any position desired. -The sewing embodies stitches Ha and Nb along the respective wall sides and a crossline l'lc such as to give an over-all substantially H-sh-aped pattern and two opposed pockets respectively opening toward the hems l2 and I3.

Our aprons are well suited for fitting any of a variety of individuals of different sizes. are easy .to use, and consistently present a neat appearance. The aprons from the utility standpoint are free of many disadvantages of tie-back aprons, have features contributing to durability and comfort and take a simple form when presented for ironing. Certain features of the aprons such as the heading, the plurality of hems for support, and multiple pockets confronting different hems. when used, not only contribute to utility, but lend a pleasing attractive appearance.

Thus it will be seen that in this invention there is provided a spring-fastening apron, wherein the various objects hereinbefore noted together with many thoroughly satisfactory advantages are successfully achieved. It will also be seen that the aprons are well suited for extended use and satisfaction. v

As many possible embodiments may be made of This effect is achieved our invention, and as many changes may be made Iii in the embodiments hereinbefore set forth, it will be understood that all matter herein described is to be interpreted as illustrative and not as a limitation.

We claim:

1. An apron, comprising, in combination, a garment-protective portion having substantially parallel hemmed edges on opposite sides thereof, the hem of each edge being fastened by spaced substantially parallel lines of stitches defining a passage sufiiciently far back to leave a heading, opposing pockets along said garment-protective portion and corresponding to said hemmed edges, and spring clip means for supporting said garment-protective portion within the passage of either of the hems and embracing the waist of the wearer.

2. An apron, comprising, in combination, a garment-protective portion including substantially parallel borders on opposite sides thereof each having a passage and a substantial heading toward the outer edge from the passage, a substantially continuous pocket wall imposed on said garment-protective portion and forming opposing pockets with the same having openings corresponding to said borders, and spring clip means for passing through a selected one of said passages to embrace the waist of the wearer and substantially retain a gathered setting of the corresponding border.

3. 'An apron, comprising, in combination, a garment-protective portion cap-able of being spread out to substantially fiat form and including at least two borders on different sides thereof, each border having a passage and a substantial heading toward the outer edge from the passage, pockets along said garment-protective portion corresponding to said borders for use when the related border is supported in topmost position, and a spring clip for supporting said garmentprotective portion along any one of said passages selected, to embrace the waist of the wearer and substantially retain a gathered, non-flat setting of the corresponding border.

4. An apron, comprising, in combination, a garment-protective portion capable of being spread out to substantially flat form free of gathering and including hems on opposite sides thereof, said sides being provided with passages,

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 147,479 Chipley Feb. 1'7, 1874 796,695 Blake Aug. 8, 1905 999,263 Ruth Aug. 1, 1911 1,364,746 Goodman Jan. 4, 1921 1,887,110 Yuengel Nov. 8, 1932 2,085,425 Goodwin June 29, 1937 2,156,231 Stam Apr. 25, 1939 2,237,111 Parks Apr. 1, 1941 2,325,420 Nichols H July 27, 1943 

